In this current state of the NBA in which the player-official relationship isn't in the best place, Russell Westbrook didn't add fuel to the fire on Wednesday.
Frustrated with a personally slow shooting start — not to mention the lowly Lakers hanging around — Westbrook tried to get to a loose ball in a defense-devoid second quarter but was called for a foul by official Courtney Kirkland. Billy Donovan was livid. Westbrook was stoic.
Westbrook ended the civil conversation by asking Kirkland if the call would have been different if he'd dived to the floor.
Then, he made his next two shots from the field.